Tax reform is on the agenda in Washington. So that we can prioritize our efforts, AFF is conducting a survey to determine which federal tax issues matter the most to family forest owners. To widen the net of our responses, I was hoping you could pass it along to your NYFOA members as well.

DEC Seeks Participants for Summer Wild Turkey Survey
Citizen Scientists Help DEC Gauge Turkey Population
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today encouraged New Yorkers to participate in a survey for wild turkeys and help state biologists better understand this iconic bird.

The Saratoga Tree Nursery will purchase cone and fruit from private individuals for our seed procurement program. The species desired, approximate ripening date, and price paid per bushel are listed on page 2. The ripening date is an estimate. Cone and fruit should be inspected prior to harvesting in order to determine if it is ready to be picked. Seed that is immature will not be accepted. If you are not sure, feel free to contact the Nursery.

The Saratoga County Fair is just around the corner and we are in need of volunteers to staff our booth. The fair begins on July 18th and will run until the 23rd. Bill Burke is organizing the volunteer schedule and is asking anyone that is willing to work to please email him as soon as possible if you would like to choose a time slot. Don't forget, free admission for anyone that volunteers! Bill's email is liamsb46@gmail.com

Empire State Forests for the Future (ESFF): This is the governor's proposal to bolster the forest products industry and support private forest landowners (e.g. through 480-B, and grants for private forest land stewardship).

A (PA) statewide effort to build appreciation for forests, the people who own them, and the importance of tending them, the Walk in Penn's Woods is a day with organized woods walks in each county in Pennsylvania. Anticipated to become an annual event, this inaugural Walk in Penn's Woods day happens the first Sunday in October across the state.

Each year, NYFOA presents the Heiberg Memorial Award
to honor outstanding forestry and conservation contributions in New York State. This year’s recipient is Jerry Michael. Jerry richly deserves this award based on a lifetime of service to NYS woodlands and woodlot owners — individually, as a board member of NYFOA, and as an active member of several other organizations that promote
interrelated forestry and conservation goals.

Each year the board looks around and asks itself what one individual has demonstrated unmatched contributions to the responsibilities of NYFOA at the state and chapter level. A number of dedicated and eligible candidates for the Outstanding Service Award come to mind, but Phil Walton’s name really rose to the top of the list.

Please hold these tentative dates open for the CNY-NYFOA Annual Picnic and/or Woods Walks : August 19th and September 16th PLANNING for these and other future programs and events would benefit from a team effort!

ONLY 25 TICKETS LEFT TO SELL OR PURCHASE!! If you would like a ticket, the following members may still have tickets left to sell: Bob Preston, Dave Preston, Deb and Vic Bandinelli, Mark Gallo, Ray Meinzer, Ken Gaines, Herb Linderman and Don Kuhn.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that Oak Wilt Protective Zones have been established in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Greenwood Heights, Kings County; the Town of Canandaigua, Ontario County; and all of Suffolk County. These zones are the first line of defense in preventing the spread of oak wilt, a deadly tree disease. Previously, DEC established Oak Wilt Protective Zones in the towns of Glenville, Schenectady County, and Central Islip, Suffolk County. The county-wide Protective Zone for Suffolk County replaces the zone for Central Islip.

Members of the NYFOA Board Executive Committee and the Policy Committee have met with DEC representatives regarding these proposals on at least five occasions over the past two years. The proposals have also been discussed (debated) at regular NYFOA Board meetings, including input furnished by Chapter-designated Board Members.

As many of you know, we include a member landowner profile in each issue of the Forest Owner magazine. The next several issues of the Forest Owner, especially in 2015, will be highlighting various aspects of forest regeneration or restoration. Do you have any experiences related to your efforts, successes, or failures with forest regeneration?

NYFOA has rekindled the tradition of having a silent auction coincident with its annual meeting. The auction's beneficiaries for 2017 have been selected from several worthy organizations that are passionate about woodlands and NY's young people. And the winners are.....NY's 4-H Forestry Invitational Team and NYFOA's Woodlands Mini Grants! Please click here to learn more about this exciting development!